Strychnos usambarensis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644004bbb2662520387732 |
| Scientific name | Strychnos usambarensis |
| Authority | Gilg ex Engl. |
| First published in | Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1894: 36 (1894) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In parts of East Africa, preparations of Strychnos usambarensis have been recorded as decoctions and poultices. Among the Kamba of Kenya, young shoots are boiled and the decoction taken to treat stomachache (Kokwaro, 1976). In Rwanda and northern Tanzania, powdered roots mixed into a warm decoction are used for fever and malaria-like complaints (Bennett et al., 2021). Maasai communities in northern Tanzania and southeastern Kenya make a bitter drink from bark or root to settle diarrhea (Bennett et al., 2021; Githens, 1949). The Digo of coastal Kenya sometimes mix powdered root with water to make a drink used for snakebite pain, although records emphasize the plant’s toxicity and advise caution (Bennett et al., 2021). Over a wider swath of Tanzania, the Maasai and related communities also apply crushed bark directly as a poultice for headaches (Malone & Thompson, 1971).
A simple but safe way to recognize traditional practice without hazard is a standard external poultice: grind 5 g of fresh young shoots or a small strip of bark to a paste, stir into 30 ml of warm water, apply to the clean skin, cover with a cloth for 30–60 minutes, then wash off and discard the residue. Do not drink this preparation; Strychnos usambarensis contains quinolizidine alkaloids that can be toxic when taken internally and should not be used during pregnancy or by children.
The plant’s activity plausibly reflects its well-known indole and quinolizidine alkaloids, notably strychnine and related bases. Crude extracts and individual alkaloids are depressant at higher doses and stimulant at lower doses, and are also analgesic, which matches the traditional uses for fever, stomach upset, headache, and pain relief.
Recent work still refers to Strychnos usambarensis in reviews of African medicinal plants and its alkaloid chemistry, but commercial products are rare and the species is generally preserved as a wild forest tree rather than cultivated; elders continue to make the traditional external poultice where plants occur.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Sawn timber for construction, furniture and interior joinery.
- Fuel wood and charcoal for domestic energy.
- Bark extract (tannin) used as a natural brown dye and leather tanning agent.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Heavy, hard wood employed for poles, railway sleepers, marine pilings and structural beams.
- Small‑diameter logs processed into tool handles, carvings and kitchen utensils because of the fine, even grain.
- Bark tannins supplied to the leather industry for both tanning and coloring of hides.
- Construction of rafters, beams and other structural components.
Wood and fiber:
- Heartwood dark brown, density 0.75–0.85 g cm⁻³, high specific gravity; sapwood pale and indistinct.
- Mechanical properties reported in regional timber tables indicate high strength suitable for structural applications; shrinkage is low.
- The high lignin content contributes to durability.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark yields condensed tannins (≈ 15–20 % of dry weight) used in leather tanning.
- Extract provides a reddish‑brown natural dye suitable for wool and protein fibers.
- Tannin extraction is commonly performed by cold‑water maceration, giving a stable brown solution.
Scientific and model‑organism use:
- The species is included in comparative transcriptomic and genomic studies of Loganiaceae; data are deposited in public repositories (e.g., NCBI SRA) for research on monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis.
- Nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences are employed in phylogenetic reconstructions of the Strychnos genus.
Properties relevant to use:
- High lignin content (~30 % of dry weight) and specific gravity give structural strength and dimensional stability.
- Bark tannins are predominantly procyanidins, providing good leather‑tanning performance and resistance to proteolysis.
- Low extractive content (~2 % of dry weight) minimizes discoloration of finished wood and improves paint adhesion.
Standards and regulation:
- Timber grading follows EN 1912 for hardwood structural timber; export of sawn timber is subject to permits issued by national forestry authorities.
- Tannin quality is assessed using ISO 6571 (determination of tannin content) and ASTM D1113 (acid‑base extraction).
- The species is not listed in CITES appendices; national forestry agencies monitor harvest levels.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern (2021) due to wide distribution.
- Harvesting is regulated in Tanzania (Forest Act 2002) and Kenya (Forest Act 2015); sustainable management recommends selective cutting with rotations ≥30 years.
- National forest agencies set harvest quotas and monitor extraction to maintain sustainable yields.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is available for managed populations, ensuring traceability and responsible harvesting.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Strychnos cerasifera | Gilg | Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas , C: 311 (1895) |
| Strychnos distichophylla | Gilg | Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas , C: 310 (1895) |
| Strychnos cooperi | Hutch. & M.B.Moss | Fl. W. Trop. Afr. 2: 24 (1931) |
| Strychnos cooperi | M.B.Moss, Hutch. & Dalziel | Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1937: 335 1937 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | bloubitterbessie |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
South Tropical Africa
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
Southern Africa
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Northern Provinces
- Swaziland
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Congo
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
-
Western Indian Ocean
- Madagascar
-
East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000501270 |
| Tropicos | 19000634 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:547543-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2595082 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 455165 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 992791 |
| IPNI | 547543-1 |
| iNaturalist | 340209 |
| GBIF | 5645098 |
| Freebase | /m/0wbhqhq |
| EOL | 5345304 |
| USDA GRIN | 417573 |
| Wikipedia | Strychnos_usambarensis |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Harmala alkaloids | |||||
| (2R,3E,12bS)-2-(4,9-dihydro-3H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ylmethyl)-3-ethylidene-2,4,6,7,12,12b-hexahydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine | 135485580 | Click to see | 434.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| (2R,3R,12bS)-3-ethyl-11-[(2S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-2-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,7a,12,12a,12b-decahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 44559861 | Click to see | 553.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP020070E |
| (2R,3Z,12bR)-3-ethylidene-2-(9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6,7,12,12b-hexahydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine | 163186006 | Click to see | 432.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099529 |
| (2S,12bS)-3-ethenyl-11-[(2R)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-2-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 101967022 | Click to see | 549.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81453-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2797(91)90025-3 |
| (2S,12bS)-3-ethenyl-11-[(2S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-2-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 101624708 | Click to see | 549.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81453-3 |
| (2S,3R,12bS)-3-ethenyl-2-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 401427 | Click to see | 466.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| (2S,3R,12bS)-3-ethenyl-2-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-11-ol | 163194833 | Click to see | 466.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 |
| (2S,3R,12bS)-3-ethyl-2-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-9-ol | 49863342 | Click to see | 468.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| (2S,3Z,12bS)-2-(4,9-dihydro-3H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ylmethyl)-3-ethylidene-2,4,6,7,12,12b-hexahydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine | 163186547 | Click to see CC=C1CN2CCC3=C(C2CC1CC4=NCCC5=C4NC6=CC=CC=C56)NC7=CC=CC=C37 | 434.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099529 |
| (3R,6'R,7'R,8'aS)-6'-ethenyl-6-hydroxy-7-[(2R)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-7'-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]spiro[1H-indole-3,1'-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-indolizine]-2-one | 163189724 | Click to see CN1CCCC1C2=C(C=CC3=C2NC(=O)C34CCN5C4CC(C(C5)C=C)CC6C7=C(CCN6C)C8=CC=CC=C8N7)O | 565.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| (3R,6'R,7'R,8'aS)-6'-ethenyl-6-hydroxy-7'-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]spiro[1H-indole-3,1'-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-indolizine]-2-one | 21123429 | Click to see CN1CCC2=C(C1CC3CC4C5(CCN4CC3C=C)C6=C(C=C(C=C6)O)NC5=O)NC7=CC=CC=C27 | 482.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| (3S,6'R,7'R,8'aS)-6'-ethenyl-6-hydroxy-7-[(2R)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-7'-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]spiro[1H-indole-3,1'-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-indolizine]-2-one | 163189725 | Click to see | 565.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 |
| (3S,6'R,7'S,8'aS)-6'-ethenyl-6-hydroxy-7'-[[(1S)-2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl]methyl]spiro[1H-indole-3,1'-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-indolizine]-2-one | 163185902 | Click to see | 482.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 |
| 1-[(3-ethylidene-2,4,6,7,12,12b-hexahydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-2-yl)methyl]-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-6-ol | 75072021 | Click to see | 448.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9804738 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 10-Hydroxyusambarensine | 10433813 | Click to see | 448.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980375M https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9804738 |
| 10-Hydroxyusambarine | 3084873 | Click to see | 466.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 10'-Hydroxyusambarensine | 44566377 | Click to see | 448.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980375M |
| 11-Hydroxydihydrousambarine | 49863369 | Click to see | 468.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 2-(4,9-dihydro-3H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ylmethyl)-3-ethylidene-2,4,6,7,12,12b-hexahydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine | 162987964 | Click to see CC=C1CN2CCC3=C(C2CC1CC4=NCCC5=C4NC6=CC=CC=C56)NC7=CC=CC=C37 | 434.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099529 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 3-Ethenyl-11-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 124977 | Click to see CN1CCCC1C2=C(C=CC3=C2NC4=C3CCN5C4CC(C(C5)C=C)CC6C7=C(CCN6C)C8=CC=CC=C8N7)O | 549.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2797(91)90025-3 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81453-3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 3-Ethenyl-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 78182284 | Click to see | 466.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 3-Ethenyl-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-11-ol | 163063236 | Click to see | 466.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 |
| 3-Ethenyl-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-9-ol | 78302558 | Click to see | 466.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 3-Ethenyl-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizine | 5089095 | Click to see | 450.60 | unknown |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94682-X |
| 3-Ethyl-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-10-ol | 75309077 | Click to see | 468.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 3-Ethyl-2-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-9-ol | 75309071 | Click to see | 468.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 3-ethylidene-2-(9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6,7,12,12b-hexahydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine | 6825683 | Click to see CC=C1CN2CCC3=C(C2CC1CC4=NC=CC5=C4NC6=CC=CC=C56)NC7=CC=CC=C37 | 432.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099529 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 4,9-Dihydro-1-methyl-3H-pyrido(3,4-b)indole | 160510 | Click to see | 184.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199803/04)9:2<63::AID-PCA388>3.0.CO;2-9 |
| 6'-ethenyl-6-hydroxy-7-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-7'-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]spiro[1H-indole-3,1'-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-indolizine]-2-one | 163024264 | Click to see CN1CCCC1C2=C(C=CC3=C2NC(=O)C34CCN5C4CC(C(C5)C=C)CC6C7=C(CCN6C)C8=CC=CC=C8N7)O | 565.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| 6'-ethenyl-6-hydroxy-7'-[(2-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methyl]spiro[1H-indole-3,1'-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-indolizine]-2-one | 155297 | Click to see | 482.60 | unknown |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 |
| Dihydrousambarensine | 136099744 | Click to see | 436.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP020070E |
| Harman | 5281404 | Click to see CC1=NC=CC2=C1NC3=CC=CC=C23 | 182.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199803/04)9:2<63::AID-PCA388>3.0.CO;2-9 |
| Isostrychnopentamine A | 6712642 | Click to see CN1CCCC1C2=C(C=CC3=C2NC4=C3CCN5C4CC(C(C5)C=C)CC6C7=C(CCN6C)C8=CC=CC=C8N7)O | 549.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81453-3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 |
| Strychnopentamine | 6712640 | Click to see CN1CCCC1C2=C(C=CC3=C2NC4=C3CCN5C4CC(C(C5)C=C)CC6C7=C(CCN6C)C8=CC=CC=C8N7)O | 549.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1264493 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81453-3 |
| Usambarensine | 5281413 | Click to see | 432.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980375M https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ https://doi.org/10.1021/NP020070E https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199803/04)9:2<63::AID-PCA388>3.0.CO;2-9 |
| Usambarine | 442121 | Click to see | 450.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94682-X https://doi.org/10.1021/NP020070E https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC89474/ |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Strychnos alkaloids | |||||
| (1R,11S,12R,13R,14E,19S,21S)-14-ethylidene-10-[(2S,3E)-3-ethylidene-2,4-dihydro-1H-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-2-yl]-8,16-diazahexacyclo[11.5.2.11,8.02,7.016,19.012,21]henicosa-2,4,6,9-tetraen-11-ol | 163192960 | Click to see | 566.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00944-8 |
| Tetradehydrolongicaudatine Y | 44559870 | Click to see | 586.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP020070E |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Pyridoindoles / Beta carbolines | |||||
| (E)-2-[(7R,9S)-9-Hydroxy-4-methyl-4,10-diazatetracyclo[8.6.1.05,17.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),11,13,15-tetraen-7-yl]but-2-enal | 11969719 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199803/04)9:2<63::AID-PCA388>3.0.CO;2-9 |
| Indolo(2',3':3,4)pyrido(1,2-b)(2,7)naphthyridinium, 5,7,8,13,13b,14-hexahydro-5,6-dimethyl-, (5S,6R,13bS)- | 157739 | Click to see CC1C2=C(CC3[N+]1(CCC4=C3NC5=CC=CC=C45)C)C=CN=C2 | 304.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199803/04)9:2<63::AID-PCA388>3.0.CO;2-9 |
| Isomalindine | 134716669 | Click to see | 304.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199803/04)9:2<63::AID-PCA388>3.0.CO;2-9 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |